Side wall construction for pressed metal vehicle bodies



Dec. 1, 1931- J. LEDWINKA 1,834,493

SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR PRESSED METAL VEHICLE BODIES Original FiledAug. 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. LEDWINKA Dec. 1, 1931.

SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR PRESSED METAL VEHICLE BODIES Original FiledAug. 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

A TTORN E Y.

J. LEDWINKA Dec. 1, 1931.

SIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION FOR PRESSED METAL-VEHICLE BODIES- Origiflal FiledAug. 16, 1927 3 Sheets-Shet 5 I N VEN TOR. JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED" STA TES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH LEDWINKA, 0FPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G.

BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYZVANIA, A GOR-PORATION ,OF PENNSYLVANIA SIDE 'WALL CONSTRUCTION PRESSED METAL VEHICLEBODIES Original application filed. August 16, 1927; Serial No, 213,260,and. in Canada October 7, 1927. Divided and this application filedDecember 12, 1929. Serial No. 413,495.

The invention relates to pressed metal vehicle bodies and particularlyto such bodies, the walls of which are built up in large part, ofunitary inner and outer panel stampings such as are disclosed, forexample, in my prior application Serial No. 159,827 filed January 8,1927, for pressed metal vehicle bodies now Patent No. 1,808,561, grantedJune 2, 1931.

It is an object of my invention to generally improve the superstructureunit or body proper of such bodies and to adapt it to be more readilymanufactured in self-sustaim ing, rigid sub-assemblies, which can behandled and shipped as units without danger ,of

' damage and which can readily be joined in i final assembly to form acomplete unitarybody superstructure which can also be handled andshipped as a unit, and can be readily upholstered and painted prior tothe assem-- bly with the underframe or chassis. This underframe orchassis may, as in the priora construction above referred to, embody allthe cross braces for the lower portion lOf the body, and whichordinarily serve as floor and seat supports.

It is also an object of my invention to still further li hten the bodysuperstructure by reducing t e extent of the inner bracing andreinforcing paneling andto further reduce parts in one die-stampingoperation which heretofore required several operations, thus reducingboth the die cost and labor costs of manufacture.

These objects are attained further by making the front section of thebody superstructure a unitary sub-assembly comprised of inner and outerstampings which maybe ewh formed from one piece of flat stock or inseveral pieces welded together either afterthey have been partially orwholly given their desired form. I prefer, however, to form each ofthese inner and outer stampings of such an extent, and at one diestamping operation, as to form portions of the cowl, A-posts, and upperand lower windshield. headers, and to join these stampings along theiredges to form in eflect a substantially continuous closed hollowstructure, which is extremely strong and stiff, while yet of a minimumweight. This front construction forms the subject matter of the parentapplication Serail N 0. 213,260 for automobile bodies 'filed August 16,1927, of which this application is a division.

In the attainment of these objects I further make the side portions ofthe body superstructure as independent sub-assembly units extending fromthe A-post to and around the rear quarter,.and so join the outer andinner panels formingthis unit at the A-posts and so join it with thefront unit in final assembly as to greatly strengthen the A-poststructure by combining in ita closed;

hollow section with a channel section. I simplify the top headers abovethe sides of the rear quarter window opening. The inner paneling isstill further reduced in weight and rendered of open construction byforming it with generous openings, which permit access to the outerpanel, for straightening in case of damage and also to permitthe readyapplication or removal of the interior trim or upholstery.

Additional objects and advantages and the manner in which they areattained will become apparent from the following detailed description,when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof. Y

In the drawings K Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete unitarybody superstructure ready to be mounted upon the underframe or chassis.

Fig. 2 is an inside view of an inner side panel. l Fig. .3 is acorresponding view of an-outer side panel. i l l Figs. 4, 5, 6,-7, 8, 9,10, 11 and 12 are detail sections taken, respectively, on thecorrespondin ly numbered section lines as indicated in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 13 is a detail section through the joint between the roof and backpanels.

and of themselves and capable of being handled and shipped as units.

n. The unitary sub-assemblies comprise a.

front sub-assembly A, two side sub-assembliesB, a rear sub-assembly Cand a top subassembly D. These various sub-assemblies are marginallyjoined together in the final assembly in a manner to be presentlydescribed to form" the complete, unitary, selfsustaining, bodysuperstructure.

The side sub-assemblies B of the improved body superstructure comprise,as in the earlier application above referred to, the outer and innerlight gauge sheet metal unitary sub-assemblies which-may be andpreferably are each formed at one die stamping operation, the outer part31' forming, as in the structure disclosed in the prior applicationSerial No. 159,827, parts of the post structures, the thresholds and thetop headers, as well as side portions of the roof, and the rear quarterincluding the rear corner of the body. This part is substantiallysimilar to the corresponding part in the prior application Serial No.159,827 above referred to, being a relatively deep drawing and formedwith transverse flanges around door and window openings of'substantiallythe full depth of said openings. At the top and rear this part 31 isflan ed inwardly as'at 32, the ed e portion of ange 32 at the top beinganged laterally to receive the edge of the roof in the angle so formedprior to final assembly.

Around the doorway and window openings this part 31 is, as in thestructure of the prior 40 application, flanged inwardly at 33 and 34, Irespectively, and then laterally at 35 and 36,

respectively," parallel to the plane of the door and window openings. Atthe bottom, except in the region of the wheel housing depression formedtherein, part 31 is curved inwardly as at 36', Fig. 11, and then flangeddownwardly at 37. 'In the wheel housing region part 31 is flangedinwardly -at the bottom as shown at 38, Fig. 3. This flange is adaptedto rest upon the top of the sill of the chassis or underframe Uindicated in Fig. 9.

. The inner part 31' forming with the outer part 31 the complete sideassembly is shown in Fig. 2. This inner part is lightened decidedly bythe provision of the lightening openings 39, yet without materialsacrifice of strength. Theinner part is not cojextensive with the outer,being omitted entirely at the wheel housing and in the side roofquarter, as well as in most of the region rearwardly of the side quarterwindow opening, thus making for additional. space in those regions. Thisinner part 31 is relatively flat as compared with the outer part 31' andis joined to the outer panel around the door and window openings andalong the bottom edge from the A-post to the wheel housing by a lockedclinched joinder comprising the shoulders designated generally bynumerals 49 pressed into the inner part, and arranged in opposedrelation to the clinched over edges designated generally bynumeral 50,of the inner part. This joinder is entirely similar to the joinder ofthe inner and. outer parts of the front unit around the windshieldopening.

At the A-post the outer part 31 is substantially Z-shape in crosssection the web of the Zextending substantially at right angles to theplane of the door opening, while the inner part 31 is of angle shape,this angle nesting with the angle formed by the web and the "inner armof the Z and having its arm adjacent the inner arm of the Z crimpedthereover at 51 as shown in Fig. 12. The outer arm of the Z 'ove'rlapsand is joined to the front unit A at 13.

In the wheel housing region the inner part 31. is flanged inwardly at 52and welded through this flange to the crown of the wheel housing of theouter part 31.

At the top the inner part 31 is flanged out- Wardly at 53 to engage infinal assembly, with the outer part in the region just above the rabbet55 above the door openings, see Fig. 4, the flange 53 being formed witha mar-' ginal upturned flange 54 which forms therewith an an le nestingwithin the angle formed by t e upper Wall of the rabbet 55 and the bodyof the outer part 31thereabove. The parts are secured together alongthis edge as by spot welding the flange 54 to the outer part 31. Sincethis joint is made at the point where the drip channel 56 is usuallysecured, the weld spots on the outside are hidden by thechannel when inplace.

By this construction, a closed box section top rail is provided abovethe door openings, and above the rear quarter window opening while theportion of the outer part extendin thereabove and curved in to form apart 0 the roof is not unduly stifl'ened and thereby yields the morereadily to accommodate minor differences in the lateral dimensions ofthe roof sect1on,and thus aids in the easy assembly of the roof sectionin the "final assembly. Additionally, there is provided a space betweenthe flange 53 of the inner part 31' and curved side roof quarter portion56 of the outer part 31a space which may serve a useful purpose inproviding space for storing small articles. At all events this spaceincreases the total inside air spaceof the body and adds to theroominess thereof.

At the rear edge, just rearwardly of the rear quarter window opening,the inner part 31 is provided with an outwardly directed stiffeningflange 57 Between the edge and the edge of the outer side part 31 isprovided a space similar to the space at the side quarters ofthe roofand which may and does serve similar purposes. 1 In this embodiment ofthe invention the rear subassembly G comprises aum'tary sheet metalpanel containing the rear window opening and curved inwardly at top andbot tom, the top portion forming a portion of the roof, see Fig. 13, andthe bottom being flanged inwardly and in final assembly forming acontinuation across the back of the flanges 38 on the sidesub-assemblies. 2 The rear part C is flanged inwardly at the'sides as at58, (Fig. 8) for stifl'ness and for joinder to the adja= cent units. Atthe top it has an oifset flange 59 (Fig. 13) for a similar purpose.

The roof or top sub-assembly D may take a variety of forms. In thepresent instance,

I have shown a top section comprising a sheet metal panel having flanges60 at its sides, see Figs. 4 and 5, an ofi'set flange 61 at its rearedge,see Fig. 13, and any suitable edge formation for attachin it to anadjacent unit at its front edge (not s own).

In the final assemb-lyofthe five main sub-v assemblies, the frontsub-assembly A and the side sub-assemblies Bare strongly joined togetherat the A-po's't to form -a reinforced A-post portion as described andclaimed in the parentapplication abovereferred to. At the rear the sidesub-assemblies B are joined to the rear sub-assembly C by welding orotherwise securing together the abutting flanges 32, 58.

The four unitary sub-assemblies so joined together form a very strongand stifl structure as they provide in effect a box whose sides arechannels facing inwardly, and

are sufiiciently stifl' and strong for handling and shipping purposesand for use, without having a top or roof section incorporated therewithhaving any substantial bracing strength. However, in order to obtaina-very strong unitary superstructure, I prefer to hereinbeforedescribed, and I may secure this in place in final assembly by weldingthe side flanges 60 thereon to the flanges 32 at the edges of the sidesections and/or crimping "the inturned flange 0n the side section overthe roof'section flange, as shown in Fig. 5.

Preferably, to assist in the ready location and alignment of the sideedges of the roof section D with the adjacent edges of the side sectionB, the portions of the flanges 32 which are crimped over in the finalassembly, are

prior to such assembly extended inwardly as shown in dotted lines inFigs.- 4 and 5. When the roof section is placed down upon these flangesthey at once support and position the same for the final assembly. 1 1

At the rear the offset flanges of the roof and rear sections are joined,as by welding, and a finishing strip 6d of any suitable material or formis secured in the channel entirely open, and being adapted to be setdown upon a chassis equipped with suitable floor and seat supportingcross braces which serve also the function of the usual chassis braces.The sides of the body overlap the sides of the chassis from the front ofthe cowl to the Wheel housing and are secured to the sills of thechassis U by riveting, as indicated in Fig. 11. In the wheel housingregion and across the rear the flanges 32 rest on and are secured to theside and cross frame members of the chassis U as indicated in Fig. 9.

When so mounted and secured, the sills and cross braces of the chassisserve also as body sills and cross braces and the whole forms a vehiclebody ofvery low center of gravity, which gives to it easy ridingqualities, and one that is from 15% to 20% lighter than all metal bodiesof former constructions, and yet is capable of better withstanding theshocks and stresses to which such bodies are subject than prior metal orcomposite bodies of 100 whichapplicant is aware. The body of thisinvention is, like that of the earlier application hereinbefore referredto, characterized by a roominess and a-beauty of line and contour notattainable with the former constructions or only with great difficultyand at large cost. With a body constructed in the manner in which thepresent body has been constructed, as hereinbefore described, thesedesirable characteristics are attained with a less material, a smallerdie cost, and smaller amount of labor in forming and assembling andupholstery and trimming, all of which factors tend to greatly reduce thecost of manufac ture, and enable the manufacturer to pass on thisadvantage to the consumer.

While I have ,hereintdescribed a specifi embodiment of my invention, Iam aware that changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention, and the claims appendedhereto are indicated to include in their scope all such changes andmodifications.

What I claim and desire to'secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A side wall construction for pressed metal vehicle bodies comprisinginner and outer unitary stampings including all the ether in the marginof 1 0 said openings, the inner stamping terminating at the rear shortof the rear edge of the outer stamping.

2. A side wall construction for pressed metal vehicle bodies comprisinginner and outer stampings extending from the bottom to the roof, theouter stamping including a the side quarter of the root, and the innerpanel having a horizontal portion at the stamping terminatingsubstantially at the lower-margin of the roof quarter.

3. A side header construction for vehicle bodies comprising outer andinner stampings joined' together to form a hollow structure above a dooropening, the outer panel being rabbeted to receive the edge of a door,the I inner panel having the edge thereof of an angle form and nestedwith and secured in the angle formed by saidxrabbet portion of the outerpanel.

4. Asideiheader construction for pressed metal vehicle bodies comprisingan outer top of a door opening and an upwardly extending portion, theedge between said portions being rabbeted to receive the edge of a door,and an inner panel secured to the outer panel to form therewith a closedhollow structure above the door opening, said wardly extending flange ofthe outer panel and through the other arm of the angle to the outerpanel in a region between the base of said flange and the arched-overportion of the outer panel, thereby forming with the outer panel aclosed box section structure over the closure opening spaced from thearchedover portion formmg the side quarter of the roof. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

opening .and in its outer margin to the outer stamping at the base ofthe roof quarter portion thereof, to form a closed header constructionabove the opening and an open space between said header and the roofquarter portion of the outer stamping. I

6. A side wall construction for vehicle bodies comprising an outerstamping including the rear quarter window opening and the rear quarter,and being flanged inwardly around said opening and an inner stamp-' ingjoined to the outer panel through the flanges around the window openingand terminating in a vertical edgarearwardly of said opening, therebyproviding an open space between said edge and the curved rear quarterportion of the outer stamping.

7. A side header constructlon for vehicle bodies eomprislng an outerpanel stamping having an arched-over portion forming the side uarter ofthe roof, and an inwardly I exten ing flange forming the top jamb of theclosure opening,, and an L inner panel stamping of angle section joinedthrough one arm of the angle-to the edge of the in-

